The New York Knicks coach hadn't called Kanter's name for four straight games, so when he finally did in the third quarter Wednesday night against the Dallas Mavericks, the veteran center was surprised.

"I even looked around like, is he serious?" Kanter said.

New York Knicks center Enes Kanter (00) kisses the floor as he enters the game against the Dallas Mavericks during the second half at Madison Square Garden.(Photo11: Adam Hunger/USA TODAY Sports)

Fizdale was serious.

So Kanter went to the scorer's table, and then checked into the game, which the Knicks ended up losing, 114-90.

The move brought joy to the Madison Square Garden crowd, much of which had been briefly chanting "We want Kanter!" just prior to the move.

As soon as he stepped onto the court, Kanter bent down and kissed the Knicks logo.

It an unusual move, but nothing about Kanter's season has been usual.

"I was planning this for a long time," Kanter said. "I was just waiting to get back in. You never know how long I’m going to play here. I was so happy I got in, just to show the fans some love for maybe, I don’t know, one last time. I have no idea."

"It just isn’t easy," Fizdale said. "And it’s a difficult situation. It’s not easy for me, it’s not easy for him, it’s not easy for anybody. But it is the direction that we have to move in order to go to the future."